We are also excited to offer a singular experience where art, nature, and wingshooting converge, offering guests a truly unique opportunity to explore the sport of wingshooting through the lens of an artist. This experience is designed not just as a hunt, but as an educational journey into the rich traditions of field sports, wildlife, and the art of capturing the moment.

Durrell, the creator behind American Soil and The Sporting Life Notebook, shares his passion for hunting, storytelling, and visual art to an experience in which guests not only learn about wingshooting but also gain insights into Durrell’s artistic process, as he combines his skills as both a wingshooter and an artist to create one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the day’s hunt. The itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Arrival & Dinner with Durrell

Your journey begins at a beautiful lodge near Thomasville, GA. Upon arrival, you’ll meet Durrell, whose passion for the art of wingshooting and the art of painting will set the tone for the experience. Durrell will prepare a dinner that incorporates wild game from his own hunting adventures and a curated selection of wine. As you dine, Durrell will share stories of his work and artistic journey, shedding light on the intersection of nature, hunting, and creativity. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the philosophical and emotional aspects of the hunt and how they shape his artwork. Throughout the evening, Durrell will offer insight into his practice, and how he uses his experiences in the field to inspire his watercolor and India ink paintings. This dinner is a chance to bond with Durrell, fellow guests, and the natural world that provides such rich material for his art.

Day 2: Wingshooting Adventure & Artistic Exploration

The next morning, embark on the heart of the adventure — a wingshooting expedition in pursuit of Georgia’s native Bobwhite quail. The day’s hunt will cover 10-15 miles across picturesque landscapes, where Durrell will guide you in learning the intricacies of the hunt. With his English Setters and an imported English Pointer at his side, Durrell will demonstrate skilled dog handling. This experience isn’t just about hunting — it’s about learning from Durrell and understanding the artistry in the hunt itself. Throughout the day, Durrell will take time to educate guests on his creative approach to the sport. He’ll share techniques for observing the land, interpreting the dogs’ movements, and appreciating the nuances of the hunt that often go unnoticed. As the hunt unfolds, Durrell will capture the essence of the experience through photography. He will document the dogs on point, the thrill of the flush, the connection between hunter and dog. These images will serve as the foundation for the artwork he’ll create later, but more importantly, they’ll allow you to see the hunt through his artistic perspective, helping you appreciate the deeper connection between the land, the animals, and the people who engage with them.

Post-Hunt: Creating Art from the Hunt

After the hunt, you’ll experience the creation of an original piece of art. Durrell will craft a personalized, one-of-a-kind watercolor/India ink painting (18” x 24”) that captures a moment from your hunt. These paintings aren’t mere depictions of the event; they are reflections of the emotion, beauty, and spirit that Durrell perceives in the field. Durrell’s artwork is known for its depth and vitality, bringing to life not only the visual moment but also the emotional.

From the Project Upland film, "Get the Art", based on Durrell's visual perspective of hunting in the Red Hills:

“I have spent about 20 years studying fine art and art history; I am really drawn to tracing modes of expression as humanity and groups of people evolve. It’s about developing a comprehensive documentation of human evolution through expression. As such, music and the arts are weighted with an incredibly powerful presence in every culture, especially that of the Red Hills region—specifically Thomasville, Georgia. The music, song, and dance came from Atlanta, but the spirit came from way deep in the piney woods. And it is deep in those woods that I join the early morning choir. It’s often men’s day in the woods, and “The Deacon,” Bob White, is singing his solo to the daybreak hymn.

But I’d been told by Neal himself, 'The birds just move a little different down in that red clay.” I’m not sure I still fully understand these birds down here, although I try to anticipate what’s going on based on my dog’s body language. It takes a bit for a young dog to learn how to handle coveys down here. All the odds have to add up for the art of handling bird dogs to truly come alive. It’s much less technical and all about connecting simultaneously with the dogs and with the land.'"

Single-hunter day rates start at $1250 per person.
Ideally, we host 2 hunters for a total of $2500/day

This event is limited to 3 participating hunters.

Please be sure to call or email us with any dietary restrictions.

The Sporting Life Notebook asks that guests not take photos or video during the hunts. If guests would like photo or video documentation, Durrell can arrange for photography.

Guests will also receive a 9 x 12-inch watercolor/India ink painting of the hunt by Durrell within 6 months after the hunt has taken place as a gift and thank you to our guests.

Guests are also welcome to join a follow-up episode of The Sporting Life Notebook to review the hunting experience.